Arthur C. Clark, that great visionary always thought that life would be discovered on the moon, Europa. Titan will do in a pinch – but an odd one.

Titan is one of the most inhopitable “worlds” in the solar system.

“…Scientists had expected sunlight interacting with chemicals in the atmosphere to produce acetylene that falls down to coat Titan’s surface. But Cassini detected no acetylene there. Experts warn that there could be other explanations for the results. But taken together, they fulfil two important conditions necessary for methane-based life to exist. Nasa astrobiologist Chris McKay said: ‘If these signs do turn out to be a sign of life, it would be doubly exciting because it would represent a second form of life independent from water-based life on Earth.’ Scientists believe that when the Sun swells up, swallowing Earth, conditions could be ideal on a warmer Titan. Professor John Zarnecki, of the Open University, said: ‘We believe the chemistry is there for life to form. It just needs heat and warmth to kick-start the process.

This week Planet Earth caught a break, literally. The largest solar prominence in nearly 20 years exploded off the face of the Sun. Capable of massive electrical disruptions with something akin to a EMP, it hit the planet a couple of days ago. Then again, the fireworks in Iceland may be just enough to push the planet into a little ice age.

Once the ash cloud hits the upper atmosphere, start watching for some glorious sunsets!

Every once in awhile The Good Lord (and I am not taking about Obama) thumbs His nose at humanity, and proves in some rather strange way that He doth indeed harbor a sense of humor. While nothing humorous is going on with the current volcanic upset in Iceland, it does prove that His power is far greater than man’s. There is a wonderful irony here, rather like one of those Ten Commandments moments, a note to Al Gore, sort of a, “Umm, big guy, I’M THE ONE in charge!”

The ultimate photography experience would be the opportunity to take the photograph of an erupting volcano from space!

“…Astronaut photograph ISS020-E-9048 was acquired on June 12, 2009, with a Nikon D2XS digital camera fitted with a 400 mm lens, and is provided by the ISS Crew Earth Observations experiment and Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, Johnson Space Center. The image was taken by the Expedition 20 crew. The image in this article has been cropped and enhanced to improve contrast. Lens artifacts have been removed. The International Space Station Program supports the laboratory to help astronauts take pictures of Earth that will be of the greatest value to scientists and the public, and to make those images freely available on the Internet. Additional images taken by astronauts and cosmonauts can be viewed at the NASA/JSC Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth. Caption by M. Justin Wilkinson, NASA-JSC….”

“…The cause of the dinosaurs’ demise is far from an open-and-shut case. Though many experts support the Chicxulub impact theory, some question whether the extinction was caused by an impact at all, and suggest that climate changes and volcanism were responsible. One line of reasoning holds that all three phenomena were to blame.

Gerta Keller, a geoscientist at Princeton University, found evidence for massive volcanic activity coinciding with the time of the extinction in an area called the Deccan Traps in India. Keller has advocated that this volcanism was the main culprit behind the dinosaurs’ downfall. Her idea has long been controversial and remains so. She is bluntly dubious of Chatterjee’s argument.

“We have worked extensively throughout India and investigated a number of the localities where Sankar Chatterjee claims to have evidence of a large impact he calls Shiva crater,” Keller wrote in an e-mail along with colleague Thierry Adatte of Switzerland’s Universite de Neuchâtel. “Unfortunately, we have found no evidence to support his claims… Sorry to say, this is all nonsense.”

The Pink Flamingo Recommends

"When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.”--Sinclair Lewis

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

SJ Reidhead (aka The Pink Flamingo) is a writer based in New Mexico. The author of two published novels, both westerns: Dust Devil and The Second Mrs. Earp and two published works of non-fictions: TRAVESTY: Frank Waters Earp Agenda Exposed and A Church for Helldorado, Endicott Peabody's 1882 Tombstone Diary. One of the leading authorities on the life of Wyatt Earp and Tombstone during the Earp years, she is currently writing a series of murder mysteries set in modern day Tombstone. The author is also working on a book about fashion in the Wild West. When complete, there will be over 2100 unpublished antique photographs dating from 1855-1910.

The author's work has appeared in Wild West, True West, Blogcritics, and The Tombstone Times. Recently the author has had to deal with a father in Stage 4 Alzheimer's Disease. This is leading to a book dealing with the frustrations of dealing with the frustrations of the disease, finance, legal, health-care, and things no one bothers telling families about it.

SJ Reidhead has been involved in Republican politics since she was 'a little kid'. During the Reagan years she was a lobbyist working with various non-profit organizations who were attempting to salvage NASA and the American space program after the disastrous Carter years. Unfortunately, because of the libertarian take-over of the GOP, and the rise of the Tea Parties, as the Republican Party becomes more and more extreme and marginalized, it is impossible to remain loyal to the GOP. The Pink Flamingoremains GOP to make their lives a living hell. As of now, I will never vote for, nor support another Republican, ever.

The Pink Flamingo went on line on October 4, 2005, after the author realized "normal" Republicans were being marginalized as the extreme far right attempts to become the new normal. In November, 2012, The Pink Flamingo, for the first time ever, voted for a Democrat, Barack Obama. Normal will never again apply to the GOP.

THE PINK FLAMINGO STORY

It started out as a joke. During the seven years I worked with the girls of my parish, leading a youth group, one of the things that I stressed were manners. Part of having manners, the way I see it, is to know how to set a proper table, host a party, cater it, and clean up afterward. I was fortunate enough to have a group of very talented girls in my youth group. They learned how to plan for, and execute large church functions, very properly. During one such function I noticed there were several incredibly tacky pink flamingos sitting on the table. Knowing the girls were up to something, I said nothing. A few months later they did the same thing at a function I was hosting at my home. I said nothing. They had a birthday party for me. More pink flamingos appeared - and a joke was born.

Thanks to the girls, all of whom are now grown, I have a collection of pink flamingos. It has become an ongoing joke. When I began working on my political blog, I realized the only possibly title was The Pink Flamingo!